The Debt Of Fate-Chapter 323: Royal recognition

Mary had just finished praying that morning when the letter reached her. Her heart was still heavy with her second son still missing.

There had been a few leads, but each time they got to the location, they would miss the time for rescue.

The wind was cold that morning. It moved slowly through the tall trees of the courtyard where she sat, a shawl drawn tight around her shoulders. A servant knelt and offered the sealed letter. The royal seal was still intact.

She knew at once it was from Edward.

Mary dismissed the servants and broke the seal herself. As she read, her calm face slowly changed. The rumors she had already heard in the fourth region were vague—whispers of bloodlines, the chaos on an excursion ground, being far from the royal city meant the news was never accurate.

But Edward’s letter laid everything bare.

Ernest.

Ironhaven.

The nobles shifting.

The court divided.

By the time she reached the end, her hands had gone cold.

"So it has come to this," she murmured.

Mary leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. Her mind drifted far into the past.

When Prince Christopher had died during a royal hunt, she had once suspected her husband, but she had no evidence to prove it. After all, the two brothers had such a good relationship. Even if she did suspect him, he was her husband—if he fell, she would too—so she did not investigate.

Everything had gone smoothly for years, and she had long forgotten about her suspicion, but like the saying goes, nothing done in darkness will not be revealed in light.

The royal family did not even have a good reputation at this moment, so they had to plan carefully.

As Mary thought over the situation, she remembered that Anastasia had married Ernest. It was nothing significant, but she suddenly remembered why her late husband had chosen her for Edward.

It was after he had spoken with the old seer. The king had specially sought her out.

"She would be a blessing to her husband," Mary remembered. Back then she did not understand her husband, but thinking about it, while Edward and Anastasia were married, the kingdom enjoyed the most peaceful times. Every attempt to rebel was dealt with quickly; even the battle against Gube had ended in victory.

Then she remembered the old seer’s last words to her. "Anastasia could be both a blessing and a curse to the royal family." She started regretting her actions. If only she had taken it more seriously, she would never have allowed Edward to treat her so badly. She should have done everything to stop the divorce.

But she had not understood. She thought that with Anastasia gone, then her threat of causing misfortune would go too.

"He did it deliberately," Mary sighed. She had the seer tortured before his death, and he deliberately did not speak clearly.

"Ahh, I should have known." But there was really no medicine for regret. She sat down and fell into deep thought.

All day she thought about a solution. Even when she met the nobles, she was absent-minded.

At night, while she lay down to rest, she thought of her late husband’s cruel means.

"George," she whispered, "your sins have reached our sons."

She rose slowly.

"This cannot be handled with force," she said aloud. "Nor with denial."

Mary moved to her desk and pulled out fresh parchment.

"If Edward moves wrongly," she thought, "he will lose everything." She still had no idea where her second son was.

Dipping her pen in ink, she began to write.

She suddenly had an idea—one that could both eliminate the trouble and keep the royal family’s prestige.

...

Edward received his mother’s reply a few days later. The situation in the royal city was getting more delicate by the day. Even without action from the royal family, some lords were beginning to push for Ernest to acknowledge his roots.

As soon as he received his mother’s reply, he immediately broke the seal and read through it.

Once he was done, his gaze lit up. As expected, his mother was always so wise, putting every possibility into consideration.

He immediately threw the letter into the fire, then he called for his eunuch.

"Send out my decree. In seven days, the royal palace will host a grand celebration to welcome General Ernest into the royal family. His identity will be restored, and he will be given the title of prince," Edward announced.

The eunuch was surprised by the king’s decision, but he did not dare question it.

The decree spread through the royal city like fire.

From the noble houses to the market streets, everyone was stunned.

"General Ernest is a prince?"

"The king acknowledged him?"

"So the rumors were true..."

"No, the king would not lie about such a thing."

"Of course, no one can deny the resemblance between Ernest and the late prince."

Voices rose everywhere. Shock, doubt, excitement, fear—everything mixed together.

Even Ernest was caught off guard.

When the decree reached him, he was still recovering. Anastasia was beside him when the messenger finished reading. For a long moment, neither of them spoke.

"A prince?" Ernest finally said, his voice low. "He is actually willing to give me the title?" Ernest knew that Edward was a man who would use any means to achieve his aim. He did not even spare his own nephew—why would he suddenly give him legitimate rights?

Anastasia’s fingers tightened slightly around the blanket. Her face remained calm, but her eyes were cold.

"This is not kindness," she said softly. "It is a cage. I bet Her Grace Mary is responsible for it." Having once been married into the royal family, she understood a lot about the mother and son.

Ernest understood at once. A title given by the king could also be taken by the king. Still, refusing now would only prove rumors of ambition.

"I will accept," he said after a moment. "For now."

Preparations began immediately.

The palace changed overnight. Lanterns were hung. Courtyards were cleaned. Musicians were summoned. Tailors worked day and night. The banquet was announced as a celebration of blood, unity, and loyalty.

Every day, King Edward spoke of Ernest.

In court, he praised him openly.

"At the execution ground, he saved my life."

"He is brave, loyal, and devoted to the throne."

"This proves that blood is the closest tie. My father and his father were good brothers. Now we finally get to fulfill their dreams. One will rule and the other will support."

Each word sounded sincere. Each smile looked warm.

To outsiders, it seemed the storm had passed.

Nobles who had been restless quieted down. Those who planned to push Ernest forward stopped speaking; they decided to watch and wait. Others rushed to prepare gifts, eager to show goodwill.

Within just two days, the tension that once filled the city faded.

People no longer argued about bloodlines or old sins.

They talked about the banquet.

"What will General Ernest wear?"

"Will Lady Anastasia attend?"

"How grand will the celebration be?"

"Will the Duke of Ironhaven come?"

Laughter returned to the halls. Wine flowed more freely. Even the air felt lighter.

But beneath the joy, some hearts remained uneasy.

Anastasia watched the palace grow bright and busy, her expression unreadable.

"Too smooth," she thought.

Elizabeth, locked away in a courtyard in the royal palace, heard the news. Her nails dug into her palms.

"Why?" She could not understand.

Anastasia was rejected by the king; her reputation was ruined. She should have become despised by all. But not only did she marry a general—he turned out to be a prince—while she was locked up to be forgotten.

"She is the daughter of a mistress." Elizabeth felt the heavens were being unfair. She refused to accept that her actions had led her to such an end.

Anger rose in her chest. She could not help but sweep everything to the floor.

She got up, wanting to get some air, but whether it was because she was angry or her foot hit something, she missed a step and fell.

She held her stomach protectively as she fell to the floor with a scream.

The maids outside thought of ignoring her, but remembering the king’s warning about the child, they were forced to check on her.

"Blood," one of the maids shouted.

"Send for a physician," the second instructed as she helped Elizabeth up.

She noticed she had been pierced by a broken vessel and was bleeding, mostly from her legs. This was a great relief; after all, if something happened to the child, they would all pay with their lives.

The physician arrived quickly and examined Elizabeth, whose face was pale. She kept cursing Anastasia in her mind.

"I will not let you go if anything happens to my child," she swore.

"How is she?" a maid asked, seeing the physician frown.

"The lady is fine. Her injury is not deep," he answered.

"And the baby?" the maid asked. She could not care less about Elizabeth’s injury.

"The child is safe for now," the physician replied.

"What do you mean, for now?" Elizabeth’s heart missed a beat.

"You have not been in a good mood for days, and it has already affected you. Plus the fall just now—if you are not careful, you might not be able..." He did not finish his words, but everyone knew he was saying there was a huge chance she would lose the child.

"Tell me what I should pay attention to. Nothing must happen to my child," Elizabeth said.

"I will speak to His Majesty, but I will write down a prescription," the physician said.

Elizabeth felt a single tear drop from her eyes as she thanked him.